Baker Lecture: ‘Building a Healthier America’

BOWLING GREEN, O.—“Building a Healthier America” is the focus of the 10th annual Ned E. Baker Lecture in Public Health Thursday (April 2) at Bowling Green State University. Three speakers will address the topic from 2-3:30 p.m. in 228 Bowen-Thompson Student Union. A reception will follow.

Dr. J. Nick Baird, chief executive officer of the Alliance to Make US Healthiest, will be the moderator of a panel discussion. The panelists are Dr. Stephanie Bailey, chief of Public Health Practice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré (Ret.), known as the “Category 5 General” for his work during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
 
Baird is immediate past director of the Ohio Department of Health, where his responsibilities included leading the state’s efforts in bioterrorism and pandemic influenza planning. During his eight-year tenure, he increased health coverage for low-income mothers and children, and strong and rapid response to disease outbreaks. He spearheaded efforts for minimum requirements for nursing homes, expanded newborn screenings and was involved in Ohio’s first Comprehensive Cancer Program.

Bailey’s division of the CDC provides leadership in building and supporting public health infrastructure, and serves as an advocate, guardian and conscience of public health practice within the CDC and the larger public health community. Prior to joining the CDC in 1999, she was director of health for the Metropolitan Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County, Tenn., where she also served as a public health medical doctor, medical director and director of the Bureau of Health Services.

Honoré, a native of Lakeland, La., gained international attention when he swept into New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, surveyed the destruction and took charge, helping bring the city back under control. Then in charge of the Army east of the Mississippi, he brought leadership to New Orleans, reminding soldiers to lower their weapons and help those in need, creating a more positive atmosphere as rebuilding began. His first book, “Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family from Disasters,” will be published in June.

Sponsoring Thursday’s program are the BGSU College of Health and Human Services, the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH), the Cove Charitable Trust of Boston, the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health and the Wood County Hospital Foundation.

NALBOH was founded by Ned Baker, a BGSU graduate and Bowling Green resident who served on the Wood County Board of Health for 12 years, including two terms as president. The lecture named in his honor is available to the public Thursday via a Webcast at http://wbgu.org/baker/index.html. Questions for the panelists may be emailed to baker@bgsu.edu.

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(Posted March 27, 2009 )